SS: RMS Athens Traditional Geocache

This cache has been archived.

Knagur Green: Due to no response from the CO after the request to maintain or replace the cache, I am archiving it to, stop it showing on the listings and/or to create place for the geocaching community.

The Geocache Maintenance guideline explains a CO's responsibility towards checking and maintaining the cache when problems are reported.

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If the CO feels that this cache has been archived in error please feel free to contact me within 30 days, via email or message via my profile ,quoting the GC number concerned

Thank you for understanding

Knagur Green
Groundspeak Volunteer Reviewer

More
Hidden : 12/1/2010
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

A relaxing stroll to this cache which is part of the Shipwreck Series. For the series methodology and more info visit SS: Shipwreck Series via the related web page link.

The first Royal Mail Steamer disaster was that of the RMS Athens, a 739 ton Union Company iron steam screw barque built in 1856 and commanded by Captain David Smith who had taken command two days earlier. The ship had a crew of 30 and for six years she had been on the mail run between Southampton and Cape Town.

She was wrecked just west of Mouille Point whilst trying to steam out of Table Bay during the Great Gale on the night of 17 May 1865. She was lying at anchor whilst preparing to leave for a voyage to Mauritius the following day. Her last anchor parted around 18h00 and Captain Smith signaled that he intended heading out to sea to try and ride out the storm. She rounded Mouille Point where she was engulfed by heavy seas.

Her engine was only 130 HP and the RMS Athens was making slow progress when her boiler fires were extinguished by a monstrous wave. Around 19h55 she was driven broadside onto the rocks and wrecked. Crowds of Green Point residents assembled on the beach, but the foul weather meant that no rescue was possible. Cries of anguish came from the doomed men on board, the last of which were heard around 21h30. Twenty-eight men had died in the ice-cold Atlantic water. The second and third officers escaped with their lives as they were ashore during the day and were unable to return to the ship, owing to the adverse weather conditions.

The only thing to survive was a pig that somehow made it to shore. All that is visible as a stark reminder of this tragedy over a hundred years ago is the engine block.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Fvg qbja. Frpbaq fyng, fgneobneq pbeare.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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